The mechanism for the dialogue that takes place within CIDI affords a
significant opportunity to become an integral part of the process of building
and following up on the Summit of the Americas. This Summits process, covering a wide array of
issues, is coordinated by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, who must naturally
be supported by the sectoral areas in implementing it. Many such sectoral areas
conduct their dialogues within the CIDI framework and, therefore, it has been
sought to ensure that the outcomes of the sectoral meetings of CIDI are taken
into account in the Summits follow-up process. It has also been sought to raise
awareness among the sectoral areas of this relationship and its importance and,
therefore, to ensure that they take advantage of it. Work has been done to build
a two-way street, where not only does the Summit of the Americas issue mandates
to the sectoral areas, but said areas also make recommendations to the Heads of
State and Government, which accords particular relevance to the meetings of
CIDI, especially the sectoral meetings.

Updated.Oct.
10, 2017

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

EDUCATION

Ministerial
(The Bahamas, 9-10 Feb.)

CIE

Ministerial
(Antigua y Barbuda)

CIE

Ministerial
(PlaceTBC)

LABOR

Ministerial
(Barbados, 7-8 Dec)

Working Groups
(IACML)

Ministerial
(Place to be conf.)

Working Groups
(IACML)

TOURISM

Ministerial
(Guyana, 21-22)

CITUR

Ministerial
(Place
TBC)

SCIENCE AND
TECH.

Ministerial
(Colombia, 1-2 Nov.)

COMCYT

Ministerial
(Place TBC)

COMCYT

CULTURE

Ministerial
(Barbados, date TBC)

IA Committee on
Culture
(CIC)

Ministerial
(Place to be conf.)

SUSTAINABLE DEV.

Ministerial
(Place TBC)

CIDS

Ministerial
(Place TBC)

SOCIAL
DEV.

CIDES
(OAS, 9-10 Nov)

Ministerial
(Guatemala,
date TBC)

CIDES

Ministerial
(Place to be conf.)

COOPERATION

Ministerial
(OEA, date TBC)

Ministerial
(Place to be conf.)

PORTS

CIP
(México, date TBC)

CIP

CIP

Other
high-level meeting

Energy - ECPA
(Chile, 7-8 Sept.)

Competitiveness Forum
(México, 13-15 Sept.)

Micro, small, medium enterprises
(México, 16-17 May)

Competitiveness Forum
(Argentina, dates TBC)

Micro, small, medium enterprises
(El Salvador, dates TBC)

The OAS is the forum for political dialogue par excellence in the Americas, its
principal added value residing therein. In particular, the dialogue sustained
within CIDI is especially relevant for the Organization, since it takes place
among the highest authorities in areas of special interest to the region, such
as education, labor, social development, culture, science and technology,
sustainable development, tourism, and social development. Accordingly, one of
the strategic objectives established by the Strategic Plan for Partnership for
Development is improvement of mechanisms for policy dialogue, the idea being to
promote policy dialogue in order to share information and best practices among
member states and to assist in the effective and efficient development of
governmental policies. To that end, it is hoped that such meetings, in addition
to promoting this dialogue, which is highly important, will also establish
priorities for action and serve as a mechanism for sharing expertise in the area
of public policies and programs. The idea of ministerial meetings is not new-the
region's labor ministers, for instance, have met periodically since the
1960's-but the process has been expanded and consolidated over the years.
Nowadays, ministers meet on a regular basis to develop policies and exchange
experiences to help the countries address their challenges.

In order to secure consistency, continuity and predictability, as well as to facilitate effective policy dialogue and cooperation among member states, in 2017 the OAS General Assembly adopted through resolution AG/RES. 2904 (XLVII-O/17) a set of general guidelines to be followed by all the sections within the OAS Secretariat responsible for the different portfolios as well as by Member States leading sectoral processes These guidelines describe the basic cycle of meetings that form a sectoral ministerial process, along with details on the format of the meetings, the parties involved, the parameters for the preparation of agendas and working documents, and the alignment with the overall strategic priorities of the OAS.